Short trip to lockup for DUI suspect

South Bend driver crashes into five county vehicles in jail parking lot.

South Bend driver crashes into five county vehicles in jail parking lot.

March 31, 2006|TOM MOOR Tribune Staff Writer

A South Bend man allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol and huffing butane fumes didn't have to go far after crashing his car. James Grenert, 26, allegedly told police he was "probably" passed out when he drove his sport utility vehicle into a tree and then into five county employees' vehicles parked at the St. Joseph County Jail early Thursday morning, according to police reports. South Bend police arrived at the scene at 1:10 a.m., arrested the man and took him into the jail, a quick walk from the parking lot. Grenert, who lives in the 400 block of East Haney Avenue, was charged Thursday morning in St. Joseph Circuit Court with one count of operating while intoxicated in a manner that endangers a person and one count of driving while intoxicated. Both are Class A misdemeanors. St. Joseph County police spokeswoman Jaimee Thirion watched video of the crash Thursday morning and said the cars that were struck all had significant damage. The vehicles Grenert allegedly drove into belong either to jail deputies or members of the nursing staff. Police said it appeared at the scene the man had been driving his 1996 Jeep Cherokee north on Franklin Street and then across Sample Street when he ran off the road into a tree and then into the cars parked in front of the county jail at 401 W. Sample St. The driver reportedly told police he thought he was driving home on the street he lives on, but said he believed he passed out while driving due to huffing butane fumes. Haney Avenue is about a mile from the county jail. Tribune staff writer Alicia Gallegos contributed to this report